The Arable Leader with Karl Martin

Karl Martin
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Sep 23, 2025 • 23min

The Truth About: Strategy

Karl and Esther Martin return for the fourth and final episode of The Truth About, the latest series from the Arable Leader podcast. This time, they're exploring strategy - a topic every leader encounters about but few handle well. What are the key questions you should ask yourself to ensure you're on the right path? Where do leaders most often go wrong? And how can you take control of your direction and build a strategy that truly works?
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Sep 17, 2025 • 34min

The Truth About: Authenticity

Karl and Esther Martin return for the third episode of The Truth About, the latest series from the Arable Leader podcast. This week, they're unpacking Authenticity - a quality often praised in leadership but just as often misunderstood. What does it really mean to "be yourself" as a leader? Where can the drive to be authentic actually become a trap? And how might we cultivate a deeper, truer, and more consistent form of authenticity that inspires trust in those we lead?
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Sep 10, 2025 • 29min

The Truth About: Certainty

Karl and Esther Martin are back for the second installment of The Truth About, the latest series from the Arable Leader podcast. This series is about exposing inaccurate or unhelpful beliefs about common concepts in leadership - and this week the team is tackling certainty. How we become trapped by it, how to deal with its absence, and how to thrive in a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous, world.
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Sep 3, 2025 • 23min

The Truth About: Success

Delve into the evolving definition of success as social media twists perceptions, fostering constant comparison. Explore generational disparities in problem-solving amid technological advancements. Reflect on the collective journey of success, emphasizing relationships and community over wealth. Discover stewardship's role in redefining achievement, prioritizing personal fulfillment and well-being. Tune in for a more authentic and holistic vision of what it means to truly succeed!
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May 6, 2025 • 34min

Healing the Soul: On Depression, Anxiety, and Waking Up with Craig Westhoff

Welcome to the Arable Leader podcast. In this episode, Karl Martin sits down with Craig Westoff for an honest, deeply reflective conversation about authentic leadership and living from the soul. Together, they explore the importance of true, brave, kind, and curious character, revealing how life's wounds—when faced and healed—can become profound strengths. Craig shares his transformative journey through depression, anxiety, and self-discovery, highlighting the power of silence, curiosity, and accepting our full humanity. The episode delves into practical approaches for grounding oneself, cultivating self-awareness, and fostering deeper relational and spiritual health. Learn more: www.arableco.com This episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/C4PQ2D3RVIo The Arable Leader Podcast features conversations with incredible leaders. We discuss what it really takes to lead from your soul...to be True, Brave, Kind, and Curious. In a world where leadership is, at best, untrusted, and, at worst, in abject crisis, we're working to equip people with the greatest of human skills: leadership. This is leadership of a different kind. Host Karl Martin is the Founder and CEO of Arable, a Leadership house that coaches top-tier leaders, specializing in cultural health. He has 25 years of experience leading teams to new levels of growth and coaching individuals to break through personal obstacles, enabling them to lead in a healthy way. Blending ancient wisdom and cutting-edge behavioral science in coaching and leadership development, Arable is changing the way global businesses and individuals develop through their True, Brave, Kind, and Curious model of healthy growth.
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Apr 29, 2025 • 15min

The Power of Long-Term Thinking in Leadership and Life

Welcome to the Arable Leader podcast. In this episode, Karl Martin uses a humorous personal story about dressing "cowboy chic" to explore the deeper meaning of investments in our lives—far beyond financial ones. He unpacks the concept of the Five Capitals: financial, intellectual, physical, relational, and spiritual, urging us to invest not just for ourselves but for the benefit of others and future generations. Karl challenges us to think long-term, act with intention, and lead generously. Through thought-provoking questions and insightful examples, he encourages leaders to reflect on their true purpose, relationships, and the broader impact of their choices. This episode is a call to mindful, soulful leadership and intentional living, inviting listeners to evaluate what's in their hands and invest it wisely for enduring returns. Learn more: www.arableco.com This episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Qp3dAylcyek The Arable Leader Podcast features conversations with incredible leaders. We discuss what it really takes to lead from your soul...to be True, Brave, Kind, and Curious. In a world where leadership is, at best, untrusted, and, at worst, in abject crisis, we're working to equip people with the greatest of human skills: leadership. This is leadership of a different kind. Host Karl Martin is the Founder and CEO of Arable, a Leadership house that coaches top-tier leaders, specializing in cultural health. He has 25 years of experience leading teams to new levels of growth and coaching individuals to break through personal obstacles, enabling them to lead in a healthy way. Blending ancient wisdom and cutting-edge behavioral science in coaching and leadership development, Arable is changing the way global businesses and individuals develop through their True, Brave, Kind, and Curious model of healthy growth.
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Apr 22, 2025 • 48min

Spiritual Capital: Leading from Soul in a Chaotic World

In this episode of the Arable Leader podcast, host Karl Martin and JP dive into the nature of spiritual capital—how it shapes both our inner lives and leadership in the modern world. Karl challenges the idea that spirituality is confined to religion, advocating for curiosity, wonder, and connection as inherent in human nature and vital to human flourishing. The conversation explores how tapping into this "something more" grounds leaders, deepens resilience, and brings wisdom to the pressures of business and life. With reflections on ancient wisdom, the dangers of comfort, and the transformative power of embracing mystery and suffering, the episode offers practical insights for cultivating spiritual richness—personally and organizationally—amid the noise and chaos of our times. Learn more: www.arableco.com This episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lXmdKP9iN4o The Arable Leader Podcast features conversations with incredible leaders. We discuss what it really takes to lead from your soul...to be True, Brave, Kind, and Curious. In a world where leadership is, at best, untrusted, and, at worst, in abject crisis, we're working to equip people with the greatest of human skills: leadership. This is leadership of a different kind. Host Karl Martin is the Founder and CEO of Arable, a Leadership house that coaches top-tier leaders, specializing in cultural health. He has 25 years of experience leading teams to new levels of growth and coaching individuals to break through personal obstacles, enabling them to lead in a healthy way. Blending ancient wisdom and cutting-edge behavioral science in coaching and leadership development, Arable is changing the way global businesses and individuals develop through their True, Brave, Kind, and Curious model of healthy growth.
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10 snips
Apr 15, 2025 • 16min

Leadership is Spiritual: Embracing Deeper Conversations and Their Impact on Leadership

Explore the fascinating intersection of leadership and spirituality. The discussion highlights the importance of acknowledging our spiritual selves for effective leadership. Through the metaphor of the prodigal son, the journey to identity and purpose is unpacked, illustrating the power of unconditional love. The necessity of investing in spiritual capital is emphasized as essential for personal and professional growth. This enlightening conversation invites listeners to reflect on their own beliefs and the impact of spirituality on their lives.
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Apr 8, 2025 • 28min

Building a Leadership Library: Reading for Growth as Leaders

Join leadership practitioner Jonathan Hewitt, content lead Emily Sanders, and Arable coach Emma Wilson as they dive into the transformative power of reading. Jonathan shares his curation strategy, emphasizing diverse perspectives to challenge beliefs. Emily champions physical books for better retention, recommending 'Multipliers' and 'Leaders Eat Last.' Emma highlights the restorative nature of reading daily and suggests 'The Road Less Traveled' for fostering responsibility. Together, they explore how literature shapes leadership growth and encourages thoughtful reflection.
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Apr 1, 2025 • 35min

Intellectual Capital: Distinguishing Knowledge from Wisdom

In this week's episode of the Arable Leader podcast, host Karl Martin and guest Jonathan Hewitt explore the nuances between accumulating knowledge and cultivating true wisdom. They delve into the importance of intellectual humility, lifelong learning, and the relational aspect of wisdom. The discussion touches on the differentiation between thinking with the head, heart, and instinct, emphasizing the value of embracing one's intellectual limitations while remaining open to diverse perspectives. They challenge the traditional structures of expertise and management, advocating for a balance between specialist knowledge and relational leadership. The episode prompts listeners to contemplate their life purpose, encouraging them to align their intellectual pursuits with their true calling. As they navigate through these themes, Karl and Jonathan invite listeners to engage in a curious, humble journey toward becoming wiser, more effective leaders. Send us your favorite leadership book! email@podcastarableco.com Learn more: www.arableco.com This episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xA0LUGoL55Q The Arable Leader Podcast features conversations with incredible leaders. We discuss what it really takes to lead from your soul...to be True, Brave, Kind, and Curious. In a world where leadership is, at best, untrusted, and, at worst, in abject crisis, we're working to equip people with the greatest of human skills: leadership. This is leadership of a different kind. Host Karl Martin is the Founder and CEO of Arable, a Leadership house that coaches top-tier leaders, specializing in cultural health. He has 25 years of experience leading teams to new levels of growth and coaching individuals to break through personal obstacles, enabling them to lead in a healthy way. Blending ancient wisdom and cutting-edge behavioral science in coaching and leadership development, Arable is changing the way global businesses and individuals develop through their True, Brave, Kind, and Curious model of healthy growth.

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